A few weeks ago a game concept popped into my head and I decided to use it to refresh my memory of DM. I also wanted to work on a project for the Poplava Challenge, so this was perfect timing. The idea I had was inspired with my long-term dream of creating a game related to the unknowns of space. Basically, you are thrown onto a planet, possibly with three of your friends, and you are given materials to build a ship, maintain it, and attempt to maneuver it throughout space.
I loved the idea as it was very simple and apparently, building games are addictive. For the first time in months I opened Dream Maker, created a new environment, and started to program. I actually enjoyed it for the first time in years. It is just like being God, I can create anything I wish, and I liked it. Similar to my last two projects, I planned on incorporating my pixel movement engine. Unfortunately, or perhaps luckily as my engine is clunky, I reformatted my laptop months before and all of my projects were on a flash drive over one-hundred and fifty miles away. So I opted with using the standard BYOND grid.
But the creation of this new project, named clunky ships, was not a smooth ride. Just days after starting there was a storm that knocked our power out for nearly a week. Not too long after, our basement flooded and I was stuck with using the WetVac, Pine-sol, and a blade to cut the wet rug. But these distractions did not discourage me, but they did disrupt the flow of the progress and I was not able to finish my project in time for Poplava's deadline.
Nonetheless, I still had motivation and the day after I returned back to my College townhouse, today, I spent hours programming in more features. Unlike my previous projects, disturbances actually give me even more motivation to continue working on this project. In fact, I am happy that I was not able to complete my project in time for the Poplava Challenge. It just gives me more time to produce a more professionally appealing project that could potentially garner me a few bucks. With that said, I present to you a short demonstration of clunky ships.
(I suggest using the highest quality setting along with using full screen)
There is no actual goal in this game; you are only there to experiment and to have fun. My plan is to come up with more building objects, whenever they pop into my head. I also do not plan on releasing the game until it is absolutely complete, although, I do want to gather a few to help me test prior to the release. This means that the finish product will have better graphics and interface, along with having music made by yours truly. The idea is that I will go back into hiding while working on this as I tend to get distracted by this community, and I also find daily/frequent bloggings about little-to-no progress ineffective. I have a schedule designed to tell me what to work on each day, when I finish the day's work, I do not move onto the next day. This prevents me from being stressed out, so do not expect more progress related news until I have something substantial to show. I want to surprise you all with the development of this project each blog post.
Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the preview of the project that brought me back to the beautiful DM language!
I can't wait to see more.
I wanna see the ship move.
That'd make this really amazing.
I guess you won't be posting about it for a while, though.
That's fine. As long as you're doing a good job, the method doesn't matter! (I think...)
Also, thanks again!